China's Strategies in the Arctic: Emerging Economic Diplomacy

The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs have the pleasure of inviting you to a seminar with NUPI's senior research fellow, Marc Lanteigne:

China's Strategies in the Arctic: Emerging Economic Diplomacy

Over the past five years, there has been growing interest within Chinese foreign policy towards the Arctic region. China, along with other Asian governments, achieved the status of formal observer in the Arctic Council in May 2013, and there has been much interest in Beijing towards developing greater scientific partnerships with Arctic states in areas such as climate change and glaciology. Recently, China’s media has referred to the country as a ‘near-Arctic state’ both due to its proximity to the Arctic region but also the direct effects of changing environmental conditions in the north on China’s own climate.

However, much of the international attention Beijing has received concerning its expanded Arctic interests has focused instead on economic issues, including potential raw material and energy development, and possible extended use of northern sea routes for faster exports of Chinese goods to international markets. China, like many other states outside the Arctic which hope to develop policies in the region, has been critical of ‘zero-sum’ approaches to Arctic strategy and security, especially in light of potential policy divides within the Council between Russia and the West. These events have led to two questions. First, will greater Chinese and East Asian interest in the Arctic lead to the greater ‘internationalisation’ of the region, (and how will the Arctic states respond)? Second, will the economic opening of the Arctic lead to improved avenues for cooperation or competition among Arctic states and others?

Comments by Leiv Lunde, Director, FNI

Tid: Torsdag 25.09.14, kl.13:00 Sted: C.J. Hambros plass 2 D , C.J. Hambros plass 2 D